GROUP 9: SHARED VISION

The concept of a “shared vision” for action was introduced by developed countries under the Bali Action Plan adopted at the 2007 UN Climate Change Conference with the objective of defining common goals for stabilizing the rise in temperature to help pressure all countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The discussion about a “shared vision” became a central part of the negotiations because a rise in average global temperature of 2°C would entail the disappearance of various islands, glaciers, and species of animals and plants. The Alliance of Small Island States (AOISIS), the African Group, and the Least Developed Countries proposed that the goal should be far below a rise in temperature of 1.5°C. Meanwhile, the Plurinational State of Bolivia proposed that the objective should be under 1°C in order to save humanity and have the least possible effect on the Mother Earth.

During the course of negotiations, the Plurinational State of Bolivia put forth that the “shared vision” could not be limited to a goal for a minimum rise in temperature, but that it should include an integral discussion of financial and technological mechanisms and the model of “development” that should be shared in order to reach an agreed-upon goal.

What are the dangers of accepting a temperature increase of 2°C? What are the limits to the rise in temperature and the concentration of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere that we should strive for on a global level? What should we understand as a “shared vision”? This working group will analyze these questions and formulate related proposals.

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Again we have a contribution from V.V. Baranovskiy of the “PAU ER” team.
A Goolge search gave me 6 references to the author which seemed to relate
to the field of Space Medicine. When I added the word “programmatic” no refs appeared.

Pablo Solon-Romero, the Bolivian Ambassador to the UN has stressed the need for a clear vision for the World to aim for and this contribution is unhelpful.

Pablo stressed the importance of having a goal of World average temperature rising no more than 1-1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels. The temperature rise of 2 degrees in the so-called “Copenhagen Accord” would see the elimination of a number of African nations through desertification ( and temperature rises locally of up to 5 degrees) and island states by flooding by the sea.

A secondary goal must be the reduction in CO2 equivalent levels to below 300 ppm as soon as possible. Australian PM Rudd a “Friend of the Chair” at Copenhagen publicly advocated a 450 ppm target.

To achieve our targets we must recognise that large scale use of a number of high energy use technologies must be quickly abandoned.

We must cease using:

1. Aeroplanes for the movement of people and for trade and of course War;
2. The private motor car;
3. Private air-conditioning units;
4. International shipping of ordinary goods;
5. Very high speed trains;
6. Industrial fishing of the oceans

( Refer to “HEAT” by George Monbiot )

We must avoid waste and avoid:
1. Gross inequalities in housing energy and space demands;
2. Transporting food over great distances;
3. Indulging in exotic foods and produce locally instead;
4. A system promoting unequality;
5. Regarding coal and oil or land, forests and wildlife populations as assets to be exploited or traded;
6. 24-hour 7-days-a-week shopping, work and entertainment